Printing machine



Feb. 29, 1944. c. H. SAND, JR

PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. l0, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. j

Feb. 29, 1944. c, SAME,l JR 2,342,699

PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 73 ff 2f Patented F eb. 29, 1944 Charles H. Sand, Jr.,

to Addressograph Cleveland, Ohio, a c

Original application 360,573. Divided 19411, Serial No. 387,159

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable manuallyoperable printing or addressing machine and particularly to a comparatively small device adapted to Ibe carried from place to place and manipulated by one hand of the operator to impress characters on a suitable record sheet. This application is a division of my copending application No. 360,573, led October 10, 1940.

Like the parent case above mentioned, the device of this patent in its preferred form comprises a headl adaptedI to carry a removable embossed plate with an inking ribbon extending across it and a platen adapted to force the record material against the ribbon to receive an impression from the plate. The head is provided with a handle, preferably in the form of a pistolgri and the platen is operated by a nger lever adjacent the handle, so that the operator can carry the device andI elect the impression with one hand. This division is concerned especially with the means for preventing the operation of the impressive device, except when the plate is properly inserted in the head;` that is to say, with the proper face toward the platen and each end extending in the right direction.

My invention is illustrated in the drawings hereof, and the preferred embodiment there shown is hereinafter more fully explained, including features which only indirectly coact with the prevention mechanism of this application.

In the drawings, l is a plan of the printing device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3- is a front View, with the handle partly broken away; Fig. 4 is a plan of an illustrative embossed plate which may be employed in the printing device; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the device in a plane indicated by the line S- on Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a vertical section throughr the entire device; Fig. 7 is a detail in vertical section ina plane indicated by the line 1 on Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical section in the plane indicated by the line 8 8 on Fig. 6.

The main frame of the printing device is preferably one integral member comprising a head l0, a shank H extending rearwardly therefrom and a handle I2 extending downwardly from the shank and formed with a forwardly upwardly extending open groove I3 into which the operating handle may extend. The head carries on its under face the embossed plate, and on its opposite sides ribbon spools from which an inked ribbon` extends beneath the plate, as hereinafter explained.

The platen carrying frame of this device comprises a hollow arm bifurcated to provide two Willoughby, (Ehio, assignor Multigraph Corporatiom, orporation of Delaware October 10, 1940, Serial No. and this application- April 7,

rearwardly extending spaced wings 2l which extend onto opposite sides of the shank of the main member to whichk itis pivoted by a transverse pin 30. This platen arm carries special platens as hereinafter described to coact with the ribbon and plate.

The operating lever 4'0 of the device lies in the front portion of the handle groove i3 and is pivoted by a pin 4I extending into ears it which project forwardly from the handle member at opposite sides of. the groove. At its upperend the lever 4S is provided with a recess bounded by a lug 43 in front thereof and a lug 4i of less height at the rear. The recess is. normally occupied by a roller 5G which lies within the hollow platen member 20 and is journalled on a pin 5lA mounted in the downwardly extending side portion of such member. A tension spring 55 is anchored at its upper end to a pin 56 carried by the platen member and at its lower end to the pin 5l carriedl by the back of the handle member. This spring lies with-in the groove of the handle member, as shown particularly in Fig. 6 and tends to maintain the roller 50' down in the recess at the upper end of the operating handle di) and such spring action normally holds the operating handle inthe position shown in Fig. 6. The lug 43 in Lfront of the roller 5D prevents rearwardmovement of the upper end of the handle but the lug 44 is low enough and. gradual enough so that it can move beneath the roller. The result is that if the operator, grasping the handle l2, pulls the lever, by his fingers, into the groove i3, the lug 'l'fl' rides beneath the roller 50 stretching the spring 55 and forcing the platen carried by the arm 20 into coaction with the ribbon and plate to effect the printing.

Referring now to the plate and the means by which it is carried by the head, a specimen plate is indicated at A in Fig. 4. My machine adapted for printing either or both` of two sets of embossed data on the plate, as for instance, two related addresses as indicated at a and af-I on Fig. 4. Such plate may conveniently be tag provided with an opening a-Z by which it may be carried by a cord or hook, for instance. The plate also may have a recess a-, eccentrically placed at the end, cooperating with a suitable stop on the printing device to insure the plate being inserted right side up and right end foremost.

Secured to opposite sides of the head It are two strips 60 extending below thev underface of the head l5, which underface is flat in the region between the strips and above the nanges'.

An embossed plate, such as illustrated in Fig. 4,

The platen member is normally locked in an" a slidable latch bar 1,0 whichl inactive position by is mounted on the underside of the shank and has a limited movement along such shank, the latch having slots 1| through which pins4 12 pass into the shank. A suitable compression spring 14 mounted in a recessin the shank at the rear of the latch tends torforce it forward and normally holds a shoulder 15 of the latch in engagement with a plate rigidly secured to the platen arm. This is the position of the parts indicated in Fig; 6,where itfwill be seen that the latch locks theA platen arm. against operation. '-When a properly positioned'vplate -is inserted to 'the limit of itsinward movementpso that the notch a-S comes about the stop .pin 62, the end of the plate abuts the front end of the latch 10 and forces it rearwardly, thus causing the shoulder `l5 to clear the plate '25to release the platen arm, `and then the operating'lever maybe actuated to swingthe platen armupwardly to effect the printing. If, however, the .plate should be inserted the wrongend foremost, the convex end thereofwould strike the pin 62 vbefore the end of the plate Vabutted-the front end ofthe latch 10 and according-lyy the latch would not be released and no operation of the platen could be eifected.y f e vThe same result inserted wrong side up,

takes place'if the plate is because in this case the notch ca -3, which is vatlone yside'of the axis of the plate vwould'be distant from the pin 62 so that the plate could not be inserted sufliciently to release the latch. f i l it `will be seen, therefore, that thev deviceis only released for operation of the platen when a plate is inserted vin the proper position for printing, and this isone ofthe features of the present application. f

The strips 60 preferably extend forwardly of the head-idas shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, to provide guides for the plate. lThis makes it a `simple matter, when the operator holds the device in one hand grasping the handle I2` and with his iingers about the lever `40; forshim to use his other hand to place the plate in this guideway and thenshove it rearwardly into place beneath the head to release the latch 10.` The side of one of the guide strips 60 may be: bent inwardly as at -60a to furnish friction suicient to overcome the forceof thelight spring 14, so that a fully inserted plater will remain in position.l

Suitablemeans is providedfor -inkingthe underside of the address plate. As shown, this means comprisesv inking ribbon 80 wound up ontwo spools 8l.` These spools lie in recesses l1 formed in opposite sides of the head |0, the forward ends of` the spools being mountedon fixed pins 32 and therear endscarried by slidable pins. SS normally pressed by springs 85 into engaging position. This enables either -spoolto be rotated by the knurled head of its pin V8|i'to bring a freshportionofthe ribbon into coaction withtheplate. i Y' The spools. arenormally encased by a removable sheet metalhood 9,0` which extends length- A i' u i) wise over the head and is clamped in place by a spring controlled pin 9|. The lower edges of the hood extend inwardly to act as a mask to define the printing area.

I have referred to the plate A of Fig. 4 as carrying two related legends and to the machine as being able to'print either or both of them as desired. The embodiment shown in the drawings has this operation, but the same is not claimed herein but in another divisional application of mine filed contemporaneously herewith. Brieliy, the mechanism shown is as follows.

ATwo platen bars `|00 and |0| are shown as pivvotally mounted onvthe platen arm 20, each bar carries on its upper face a rubber block adapted tocoact with a printing plate, the two bars |00 and |0| 'rest on a pin ||0 mounted in the platen arm 20 and are. maintained in engagement of such, pin by suitable means as, for instance, the springs |06 and |01.

VThe control pin ||0 is formed withtwo flat faces diametrically opposite each other. That is to'say a flat faceY Figl, which is shownas in engagementfwiththe'bar |00 and aflat face ||2 which -is shown `as on the underside of the pin and distant from the bar With'the controlpinin this position the-bar |0| is at a sufiicient elevation so that when the platen arm is operated by the lever 40 `an impressionwill Vbe made between the platen V|05 and that portion of the embossed plate which is directly above it. If the controlpin ||0 were turnedV 180 then the platen |04 would be raised to active position and the platen |05 released and drawn vby its spring |01 to idle position. With that setting the handle 40 would print from the portion of the plate-corresponding tothe platen |04. If the control pin l |0 were turned 90P from the position shown `in Fig. 'l the'cylindrical portion ofthe pin would engage both bars |00 and |0| and both platents |04 and |05 would effect an impression. e

`It will be seen that my printing machine is a comparatively small, simple device, which may be readily carried about and convenientlymanipulated by the hand of the operator. The formation of the handle into the form of a pistol grip and the forming of the operating lever to be` readily forced -into the hollowpof that grip by the fingers of the hand engaging the grip `pro` vide very convenient means for carrying. the device and operating it. The operating parts are compactly arranged withinthe instrument itself and are carried primarily by the two main members, namely, the head frame and'. the platen frame. The :controlling latch prevents operation by an improperly positioned plate very simply and effectively. v

Such a device as herein shown and described has a wide variety of uses. For instance, in store tokens .it-is very convenient to carry several lines of type. For instance, it mightbe desired to have a mans name with his office address and hiswifes name with the house address for rendering accounts at either place or for makinga proper entryfor delivery to the house and the bill sent to the oifce. In keeping track of payrolls in some operations, it is desirable to .have the workmen carry a tag and presentit to an attendant of certain stations. In some large hospitals eachpatient is supplied with a tag and imprint is made from one region thereofk bythe nurse on the permanent hospital record vfrom time to time in connection with operationsor medicines supplied 4orrv other yitems of.which a record is to be kept in association with the particular patient. These uses are cited merely as examples to indicate the variety of uses to which the device may be put.

claim:

l. In a printing device, the combination of a frame comprising a head adapte-d to carry a printing plate, a handle and a connecting pon tion, a movable platen arm adapted to ooact with the plate, a slidable latch mounted on said connecting portion and normally preventing opv eration of the platen arm under spring pressure, a printing plate adapted upon insertion to abut the latch and release the platen arm by constrain-- ing said spring, and means to hold the printing plate in its active position whereby the latch is maintained inactive and the platen arm released.

Z, In a printing device, the combination of a frame comprising a head, a handle and a connecting portion, means for slidably supporting a printing plate on the head, a platen arm pivotu ally connected to the connecting portion and adapted to coact with the plate, a slidable latch under spring pressure and. having a portion normally lying in the path of a portion of the platen arm, the inserted plate being adapted to abut the latch and release the platen arm by moving the latch portion out of the path of the platen arm and constraining said spring, means for es tablishing suicient friction with the plate to enable it to hold the spring constrained and the platen arm released, and an operating lever for moving the platen arm.

3. The combination of a head adapted to carry a printing plate, a platen movable toward and ,er

from the head, an operating lever for causing an impressing operation, a spring-pressed latch slidably carried by the head and having a portion normally in the path of a portion of the platen and lying in the path of an inserted plate and normally preventing the operation, whereby the insertion of a proper plate in proper position operates the latch to release the normally locked parts, and means engaging the plate to hold it in latch-releasing position.

4. The combination of a head provided with xed means for carrying a removalbe printing plate, a shank leading from the head, a pistol grip connected to the shank, a platen arm pivoted to the shank, mechanism for operating the platen arm, including a lever depending in front of the pistol grip, a latch carried by said shank and lying in the path of the inserted plate and in the path of the platen arm and normally preventing operation, a spring tending to maintain the latch in locking position, and a friction de vice engaging the plate and adapted to overcome the action of said spring.

5. The combination of a head formed to carry on its underside an embossed plate, a rigid shank extending rearwardly from the head, a rigid handle extending downwardly from the shank, a lever arm pivoted to the shank and carrying a platen adapted to coact with the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the shank adjacent the handle, an operating connection between the lever and arm, a latch bar slidably mounted on the underside or" the shank and spring pressed forwardly, said bar having a downward. extension to normally over-hang the arm and prevent its operation, the latch bar being adapted to be abutted by an inserted plate and thereby shoved rearwardly suiiciently to release the arm by the insertion or" the plate, and means to restrain the plate in its inserted position.

6. The combination of a printing head having means for' holding an address plate, an address plate slidably mounted on the head and having a notch in one end, at one side of the central region of that end, a pin positioned to coact with the notch when the notched plate is positioned on the head right side up and notched-end foremost and to be out of registration with the pin when the plate is up-side-down or Wrong end foremost, a movable platen, a latch normally preventing operation of the platen, said latch being adapted to be engaged and operated by a proper plate in proper position for printing, a handle carrying the parts mentioned, and an operating mechanism including a lever adjacent the handle so that the handle and lever may .be grasped by one hand of the operator.

7. The combination of a head formed to carry on its underside an embossed plate, a rigid shank extending rearwardly from the head, a rigid handle extending downwardly from the shank, a lever arm pivoted to the shank and carrying a platen adapted to coact with the plate, a latch bar slidably mounted on the underside of the shank and normally overhanging the arm from the rear and engaging the arm to prevent its operation, the latch bar being adapted to be shoved rearwardly by the insertion of a properly positioned plate having a non-central notch in its forward end, a pin in the path of the notch to stop the insertion if the plate is not properly positioned, and mechanism for operating the arm having a manually engageable actuating portion adjacent the handle.

8. The combination of a head provided with guiding means for carrying on its underside a slidably removable printing plate, a shank leading rearwardly from the head, a platen arm pivoted to the shank, means for operating said arm, a latch slidably mounted on the shank and having its rear end normally engaging said arm to prevent operation thereof, a spring acting on the latch to hold it normally in locking position, whereby a proper plate properly inserted in the guiding -means engages the front end of the latch to release the normally locked platen, and a frictional device to engage the edge of the inserted plate and restrain it to hold the latch in unlocking position.

CHARLES I-I. SAND, JR. 

